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An update from Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
April 22, 2026
Important Dates
March 2-May 1 (May 8 Science MCA only): MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA testing window
April 28 (noon): Deadline to order additional MTAS/Alt MCA (all subjects) and Reading and Math MCA paper test materials in PearsonAccess Next
May 5 (noon): Deadline to order additional Science MCA paper test materials in PearsonAccess Next
May 18-June 5: Posttest Editing in Test WES
May 18: Begin retrieving early WIDA assessment results in Test WES
Quick Links
Irregularities
Many irregularities that occur during statewide testing can be resolved by the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) working directly with Pearson. DACs should refer to the MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA Irregularities document on the Policies and Procedures page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub to confirm if their situation is one that can be resolved by contacting the Pearson help desk at 888-817-8659 or submitting a Pearson help desk request online. Contact mde.testing@state.mn.us if a situation is not addressed by the Irregularities document or if indicated by instructions in a particular scenario.
Ordering Additional Materials in PearsonAccess Next
Districts making updates to student test assignments or assigning paper accommodations in Test WES after the Jan. 23 deadline need to order paper testing materials. DACs and Assessment Administrators (AAs) can order MTAS, Alt MCA, and paper MCA materials in PearsonAccess Next by selecting Setup > Orders & Shipment Tracking. The deadline to order additional paper materials is noon on April 28 for MTAS/Alt MCA (all subjects) and Reading and Math MCAs, and noon on May 5 for Science MCA. Refer to the Ordering Additional Test Materials resource on the User Guides page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub for more information.
Test Security Reminder
Students may not use or access cell phones, wearable technology (such as smartwatches, Bluetooth earbuds, or smart glasses), or any other devices at any time during a testing session, including during breaks, even if the student has exited or submitted the test. Cell phones or other devices must not be used in the testing room.
Districts must implement policies and procedures restricting student access to cell phones and other devices during test administration in order to maintain test security and prevent disruptions for other students. Examples of district procedures include collecting student phones and wearable technology, verifying phones are turned off, or requiring students to store phones and other devices so they are inaccessible during test administration.
Data Entry for MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA
Districts must enter all student responses from Reading and Math MCA paper test books and the Reading and Science Alt MCA in TestNav and all Learner Characteristics Inventory (LCI) data for MTAS/Alt MCA and MTAS scores in PearsonAccess Next by 7 p.m. on May 1. The deadline to enter student responses from Science MCA test books is due by 7 p.m. on May 8. Pearson does not scan any test books for student responses or scores. As the testing windows progress, ensure staff know the district or school procedure for data entry. Any data entry not completed during the testing windows requires districts to complete the late student response entry process, and there is a $200 fee for up to 10 students. Last year, there was an increase in the number of late student response entries requested, especially for MTAS and Alt MCA.
Districts must enter accommodations or change test assignments from MCA to MTAS/Alt MCA in Test WES at least one business day before attempting data entry. The last day to enter accommodations or change test assignment for Reading and Math MCA and all subjects MTAS/Alt MCA is Thursday, April 30. The last day to enter these changes for Science MCA is Thursday, May 7. If these changes are not made in Test WES, the student's test assignment will not be updated in PearsonAccess Next on the final day of testing. For more information, refer to the following resources:
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Test WES Pretest Editing User Guide on the Test WES page of MDE’s website
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MCA Data Entry User Guide on the User Guides page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub
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MTAS/Alt MCA Data Entry and Online Testing User Guide on the Test Administration Resources page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub
Note: MCA test books are secure materials and are required to be returned to Pearson. MTAS/Alt MCA Data Collection Forms and LCI forms are secure materials but are not returned to Pearson. Districts must keep them on file after entering scores or responses online in case there are any questions about the data entered and retain them for one year after the end of the academic school year in which testing took place.
Indicating Test Codes in PearsonAccess Next
Districts are strongly encouraged to document certain test codes for students who had their test scores invalidated or will not participate in MCA or MTAS/Alt MCA directly in PearsonAccess Next during the testing window. This can be more efficient than entering individual test codes during Posttest Editing. Instructions for indicating test codes are available in the MCA Data Entry User Guide posted on the User Guides page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub and the MTAS/Alt MCA Data Entry and Online Testing User Guide posted on the Test Administration Resources page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub. The following test codes must adhere to the criteria specified when entered:
- Refusal (REF-P and REF-S) and Medical Excuse (ME): these test codes can only be indicated for students who have not completed any test items.
- Invalidation (INV-D, INV-O, and INV-S): these test codes can only be indicated for students who have completed at least one test item.
Test codes that are indicated in PearsonAccess Next and do not adhere to these criteria are automatically removed by Pearson. Pearson will contact districts weekly who enter incorrect test codes during the administration to make districts aware that the test code was removed.
Notes:
- Not Enrolled (NE) and Absent (ABS) test codes can only be indicated in Test WES during Posttest Editing for all tests.
- In order to enter a refusal or medical excuse code for any high school science assessment (MCA or Alt MCA), districts must indicate the test codes in PearsonAccess Next during the testing window; blank assessments (where test codes are added when no test record exists) cannot be added for high school science in Posttest Editing. Absent and not enrolled test codes can only be entered in Posttest Editing for high school science if the test is marked complete in PearsonAccess Next.
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To ensure MCA assessment results accurately reflect what Minnesota students know and can do, districts must make sure that Test Monitors are adhering to the following test administration guidelines laid out in MDE’s Procedures Manual. Depending on the situation, failure to do so may result in an assessment security violation and/or invalidation of student assessments.
Allowable items during testing: Depending on the specific assessment, students may be allowed access to a limited number of items during testing. However, districts must ensure that these items meet the requirements for use listed in Chapter 7 of the Procedures Manual (pages 194-197). For example, scratch paper is allowed for all subjects, but there are specific guidelines for each type of paper, such as commercially-produced graph paper not containing numbers, coordinates, or numbered boxes.
Use of Testing Directions: During test administration, it is important that Test Monitors are familiar with the Testing Directions on the Test Administration Resources page of the Minnesota Assessment Hub and follow them as written, including all scripted sections. Doing so creates a uniform testing experience for students throughout the state. If students need support during the test, Test Monitors should refer to the Answering Questions and Providing Assistance section of the Testing Directions. More details on the kind of help Test Monitors can give students can be found in Chapter 8 of the Procedures Manual (pages 236-241).
Active monitoring: While students are testing, Test Monitors must actively monitor throughout the duration of the test session. Active monitoring includes observing students and ensuring they are working independently and making progress on their tests. If a Test Monitor cannot see all students from one spot in the room, it will require the Test Monitor to circulate around the room. Depending on the situation, a second trained staff member may be needed in the room to ensure students are testing independently. While Test Monitors can answer student questions or use a computer to check online test status, other activities, such as grading papers, planning lessons, or chatting with other staff are prohibited. For more information on active monitoring, refer to Chapter 8 of the Procedures Manual (page 236).
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The updated Graduation Requirements Records (GRR) User Guide is now posted on the Graduation Requirements Records (GRR) page of the MDE website. GRR is a secure MDE system used to request reimbursement for administering college entrance exams to eligible students. Public school districts can request reimbursement for both ACT and SAT for students eligible for a free or reduced-price meal (FRP) and students unable to pay. MDE recommends that districts refer to the user guide while submitting requests. A recorded GRR training has also been posted to the Learning Management System (LMS) (DAC Catalog > MDE DAC Trainings tag).
- Districts can upload Excel, CSV, or TXT files directly into GRR. MDE recommends working with Excel files unless the DAC has expertise in using CSV or TXT files. Refer to the File Format table beginning on page 10 in the user guide for specific requirements to successfully upload the file.
- If you have only a small number of students for whom to submit reimbursement requests, MDE recommends entering requests manually.
- If you will be uploading the requests, ensure that you download a new version of the template each year. To avoid errors when uploading, do not use a file uploaded in a previous year. Refer to the user guide for the specific instructions for file uploads.
- Once reimbursement requests have been submitted, it is important to review the reimbursement reports in GRR. These reports are now available in GRR. Because of the different cost structures for ACT based on administration mode and tier price, please verify the Claimed Student Detail Report and Estimated Student Amount Report are both correct.
- Note: While districts had the option to offer the ACT with the science component this year, the reimbursement amount does not vary between the test with or without science for the district test. The only reimbursement variation for a test with the science component included is for the National Test Dates.
Refer to Chapter 2 of the Procedures Manual for more information on offering these exams to students.
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When emailing MDE with a question about a specific student’s test or situation, only use their MARSS/SSID number. For student privacy, do not send student Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as names or dates of birth in the email, including in screenshots or attachments.
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The Data Practices and Analytics division is currently seeking a Data Collections Specialist to support data collections for MDE data, including, but not limited to, discipline, course taking, and more detailed racial/ethnic data collections.
If you or someone you know may be interested in a new and challenging opportunity, consult the position description and application instructions on the State of Minnesota Careers website. The Job ID is 93146, and the posting is open until April 23. Visit the State of Minnesota Careers website for more information and to apply.
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Academic Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Minnesota Department of Education
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